Rudbeckia Plant Named &#39;BullRudihir 117&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Rudbeckia  plant having a compact growth habit and semi-double, rich yellow and brown blooms with a dark brown center.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/360,790, filed Oct. 28, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudihir 117’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckia plant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudihir 117’. The new variety was discovered in August of 2019 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing Rudbeckia plants with improved growth, more uniformity, a compact growth habit, better branching, attractive foliage, large flowers, unique flower colors, and double flowers. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR 16-2018” (female parent) and an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR 19-2018” (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. The new variety was first asexually reproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany in September of 2019. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties in botanical classification, but exhibits semi-double, bicolored flowers, increased branching, and more attractive foliage than both of its parental varieties. Further, ‘BullRudihir 117’ exhibits a different colored flower center than its female parent and a more compact growth habit that distinguishes it from its male parent.

When ‘BullRudihir 117’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L. variety named ‘Goldilocks’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudihir 117’ is similar to ‘Goldilocks’ in botanical classification, but ‘BullRudihir 117’ exhibits semi-double, bicolored flowers, improved plant quality, more uniform growth with increased self-branching, and more attractive foliage than ‘Goldilocks’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullRudihir 117’ when generally compared to other Rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Large, bicolored flowers with a brown center;     -   Good self-branching;     -   An upright, compact, and uniform growth habit;     -   Healthy, green foliage;     -   Long bloom time;     -   Ease of growth;     -   Semi-double flowers; and     -   Unique flower color combination.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive asexual propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety at 18 weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via in vitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebeck, Germany Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4 liter) pots under normal field production conditions. The color readings and measurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 18 week old plants in Gönnebeck, Germany. Color references are primarily to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, Sixth Edition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7-10 days at approximately 18°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 35-38 days at approximately             16-18° C.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 11-14 weeks in a 21 cm container.         -   Rooting habit.—Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness             that are freely branching and healthy in appearance.         -   Plant height.—50.0-65.0 cm.         -   Plant width.—35.0-40.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—High, with an upright, compact, and uniform growth             habit.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Nothing unusual noted to date.         -   Temperature tolerance.—From −3 to +40° C.         -   Drought tolerance.—Average.         -   Branching habit.—Exhibits one dominant strong branch with             several lateral side branches. The lateral branches are             upright, forming an attractive habit.         -   Branches (flowering stems).—Number per plant: 10-20. Length:             10.0-45.0 cm. Diameter: 5.0-10.0 mm. Internode length:             2.0-10.0 cm. Angle: Upright and outward. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescence present. Color: Close to Yellow-Green             Group RHS 144A to 144B.         -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Single. Leaf: Length: 6.0-25.0 cm.             Width: 1.5-8.0 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Dentate and undulate.             Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence present.             Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present. Color: Young             leaves: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137B. Lower             surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137C. Mature leaves: Upper             surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137B to 137C. Lower             surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137D. Petiole: None             present. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate. Color: Upper             surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 145C. Lower             surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 145A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bud.—         -   Diameter.—3.0-5.0 cm.         -   Length.—2.0-6.0 cm.         -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 151A.         -   Appearance.—Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped             disc florets.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from June-October             in Gönnebeck, Germany, beginning approximately 10-12 weeks             after planting.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—10-30.         -   Average number of inflorescences per branch.—1-5.         -   Disc and ray floret arrangement.—Disc florets are arranged             in the middle of the receptacle of the composite,             semi-double, freely flowering plant, with ray florets             extending outwardly therefrom.         -   Fragrance.—Unchanging.         -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 10.0-17.0 cm. Height (depth):             2.0-4.0 cm. Diameter of disc: 2.5-6.0 cm. Receptacle height:             1.0-1.5 cm. Receptacle diameter: 4.0-8.0 cm.         -   Ray florets.—Number per inflorescence: 25-44. Arrangement:             In three to five whorls. Length: 4.0-8.0 cm. Width:             1.5-3.0 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Emarginate. Base:             Acute. Margin Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth and             glabrous. Lower surface: Rough. Color: When opening: Upper             surface: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17B, with brown             coloration from the base to the midpoint. Lower surface:             Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B. At maturity: Upper             surface: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17B, with brown             coloration from the base to the midpoint. Lower surface:             Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B. Ground color             description: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17B, with             brown coloration from the base to the midpoint. Venation:             Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Same color as             the florets. Lower surface: Same color as the florets.         -   Disc florets.—Number per inflorescence: Numerous; too many             to quantify. Arrangement: In the center of receptacle.             Length: 5.0-10.0 mm. Width: About 1.0 mm. Shape: Tubular.             Apex: Five-pointed. Color: Immature: Close to Brown Group             RHS 200A. At maturity: Close to Brown Group RHS 200A.         -   Phyllaries.—Number per inflorescence: 30-40. Arrangement: In             three whorls. Length: 1.0-3.0 cm. Width: 3.0-8.0 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Elongated oval. Base: Fused. Margin:             Undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence             present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.             Color: Immature: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS             138A. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138B. At             maturity:

Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138A. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138B.

-   -   -   Reproductive organs.—         -   Androecium.—Presence: On disc and ray florets. Number (per             floret): Numerous. Filament length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Filament             color: Close to Brown Group RHS 200A. Anther: Shape: Oval.             Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Close to Brown Group RHS 200A.             Pollen: Color: Yellow. Amount: Plentiful — too much to             quantify.         -   Gynoecium.—Presence: In disc florets. Pistil length: About             2.0 mm. Stigma: Shape: Two-parted. Color: Close to Brown             Group RHS 200A. Style: Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Close to             Brown Group RHS 200A. Seeds: Overall size: Approximately             2.0 mm. Color: Black. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant named ‘BullRudihir 117’, as is herein illustrated and described. 